Subpoenas hit Michigan as fake elector probe widens

Arpan Lobo
Detroit Free Press

At least one of Michigan's fake electors has been served with a subpoena and interviewed by federal agents, a sign of widening interest in states where some Republican organizers pushed slates of illegitimate electors for former President Donald Trump in 2020.

Michele Lundgren, one of the individuals who signed documents attempting to elect Trump, said she was subpoenaed and met with federal agents from the FBI, Department of Justice and Inspector General for two hours Thursday. 

Lundgren plans to comply with the subpoena, she said.

Though President Joe Biden won the state by more than 154,000 votes, individuals in Michigan and other states produced documents where slates of people posing as electors attempted to send votes to Trump instead.

The Washington Post was first to report on more individuals being subpoenaed by the Justice Department in relation to the invalid electors.

The New York Times reported that Shawn Flynn, a Trump campaign aide in Michigan, was served with a subpoena by federal agents Wednesday. Flynn was an aide for the Trump campaign in Michigan in 2020. He did not respond to a message seeking comment Thursday.

Lundgren was one of 16 people to sign that document in Michigan. That slate was eventually transmitted to Congress and the National Archives as if Trump had won, although the state's electoral votes were awarded to Biden.

Lundgren said she signed a blank piece of paper with lines for each of the signatures.

"We were wrongly persuaded to come to Lansing and sign a blank piece of paper," she told the Free Press. She could not identify who persuaded her to sign the document.

"Who and what pulled this s--- out of the bag and tried to throw it at the wall?" Lundgren said.

Video released Tuesday by the U.S. committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol included testimony from former Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox. Cox said a plot to seat alternate electors in favor of Trump included plans to potentially stay overnight in the Michigan Capitol, which she called "insane and inappropriate."

More:Jan. 6 Committee: Organizers of fake GOP electors talked about staying overnight in state Capitol

Sixteen alternate electors had attempted to gain access to the Michigan Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to cast votes for Trump, but were denied entry by Michigan State Police.

Messages seeking comment left with several others who signed the document, including current Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock, Kent Vanderwood, Mayra Rodriguez and Stanley Grot, were not returned Thursday.

Gustavo Portela, a spokesperson for the Michigan Republican Party, said the department had not been made aware of any subpoenas issued, but added "we do however expect them." He declined further comment.

Marian Sheridan, another attempted elector, said she had not been served with a subpoena and had not heard of any others being served. Clifford Frost, who also attempted to cast a vote for Trump, declined comment when called by the Free Press on Thursday.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanloboBecome a subscriber today.